Vehicle operated gate



Feb. 15, 1927.

D. C. FUNCHEON .VEHICLE OPERATED GATE Filed Oct. 11, 1924 Fig.1

2 Sheets-Sheet -1 WITNESS:

Feb. 15 1927.

Filed Oct. 11, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I WITNESS:

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. INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 15, 1927.

untrue arms DANIEL CHARLES FUNCHEO'N, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

VEHICLE OPERATED GATE.

Application filed October 11, 1924. Serial No. 743,040.

This invention relates to gates for use on farms or other places and has for its object the provision of a gate so constructed and arranged as to be opened automatically when engaged by a vehicle, weight means being provided for normally holding the gate in upright or closed position.

An important and more specific object is the provision of a gate of this character 19 which is suitably mounted for swinging movement in a vertical plane so that upon the approach of a vehicle, the bumper or front wheels thereof will bear against the gate and force it into a horizontal position so that the vehicle may pass thereover, subsequently to which the weights provided will operate to return the gate to normal, upright or closed position.

An additional object is the provision of a gate structure of this character which will be simple and inexpensive in manufacture, easy to install, efficient and durable in use and a general improvement in the art.

With the above and other object-s and advantages in view, the invention consists in the details of construction to be hereinafter more fully described and claimed and illustrated in the drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the gate showing itin normal or upright position, certain elements being shown in section and the ground being likewise shown in sections.

Figure 2 is a similar view showing the gate in the act of being swung into open position.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section through the gate way showing a side elevation of the gate and showing it in fully open position with the vehicle passing thereover, and

Figure 4 is a vertical section taken across the gate way and showing a front elevation of the gate itself.

Referring more particularly to the drawr ings, the letter A designates posts at opposite sides of a gap or gate way B, which fence posts constitute the ends of the fence as is apparent from an inspection of Figure 4.

In carrying out the invention, I provide a pair of pits located in the drive way 11 at the gate, which pits are adjacent the fence posts A and contain housings 12 of concrete or other suitable material to provide spaces or compartments for a purpose to be described.

In the present instance the housings 12 are represented as being of rectangular shape though naturally there is no limitation in this respect as they might have any other desired configuration. Secured upon the upper edges of the inner sides of the housings are bearings 13 which support a shaft 1 1 extending transversely of the drive way 11 and carrying the gate which is designated broadly by the numeral 15. The bearings 13 are notched so that the shaft and gate may be bodily removed if desired.

While this gate-might be of any preferred construction I have represented it as including side members 16 connected by a plurality of cross bars 17 which may be constructed of wood or any other desired material. The side bars 16 are suitably secured to the shaft 14 and extend downwardly into the housings 12 located within the pits 10. Carried by these lower ends of the side bars 16 are bolts or other trunnion devices 18 on which are suitably suspended weights 19 of any suitable material and of any desired weight. depending upon the weight of the gate 15, it being, of course, necessary that the weights be sufficient to counterbalance for normally holding the gate in upright position. Locate-d inwardly ofthe brackets or bearings 13 and preferably embedded in the earth, or other material forming the driveway 11. are elongated planks 20 or the like which form a suitable support for the gate when the latter is in horizontal or open position.

While it is not absolutely essential. I have shown the gate as including central bars 21 which proiect somewhat beyond the top of the gate to define extensions 22 between which is secured a spring 23.

Under ordinary conditions. it is apparent that the gate remains in vertical position as shown in Figure 1. Upon the approach of a vehicle indicated by dotted lines at V, the bumper, if the vehicle is equipped with one, or the front wheels, in the absence of a bumper, will strike against the gate and move it as shown in Figure 2 until it rests flat upon the ground as indicated in Figure 3 so that the vehicle may freely pass over it. It is of course intended that the vehicle be driven at a low rate of speed in order to avoid injury to the vehicle or to the gate and it is obvious that gradual engagement of the vehicle with the gate will simply swine; the latter downwardly without likelihood of injury to any of the parts. Just as soon as the vehicle has been driven over the gate the Weights 19 pulling upon the extensions at the lower ends of the side bars 16 will act to bring the gate again to vertical or normal position so that the opening or gap in the fence will be effectually closed. From the foregoing description and a study or the drawings it will be apparent that I have thus provided a simply constructed and inexpensive gate device which is readily operable simply by engagement of a vehicle thereagainst, it being entirely unnecessary for the driver or other occupant of the vehicle to ali-gliit and open and closethe gate manually. The device is consequently bound to be a great saver of time, labor and annoyance. Ow'ing'to the fewness of the parts and the ruggedness of the construction, it is evident that there is very little to get out of order so that the device should have a long and satisfactory life.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of the invention, it should be understood that I reserve the right to make such changes in the form, construction and arrangement of parts as will not depart from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claim.

Having thus described the invention, I claim A vehicle opeated gate mechanism for mounting at a gateway and a roadway, comprising housing members embedded flush within the roadway at the sides of the gateway, bearing bracket-s mounted at the edges oi? Said housings and projecting above the surface of the roadway and lormed' with notches, a shaft supported in said notched brackets for swii'iging moven'ient, a gate car i'ied by said shalt and including side portions e:-:tending downwardly therebelow and weights eccentrically pivotally mounted on the projecting lower ends of the sides of the gate, the shaft and gate being removable bodily from engagement within said bracket members.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature.

DANIEL CHARLES FUNGHEON. 

